February 01, 2022
False vax hit sign of media hostility says Whānau Ora head
The chair of the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency says a story about false vaccinations at a south Auckland marae is a reminder Māori success is a target for hostile media.
NewsHub reported last week the marae was investigating a rumour someone had been entered into the vaccination records without actually receiving a jab.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says Manurewa Marae has successfully vaccinated almost 50,000 people, and that’s clearly seen as a threat in some parts of the media.
“Māori health providers and community providers have been far more successful than other providers, and that’s because we know our communities. That’s because we are trusted. That’s because we can talk to them in a manner they clearly understand. So when you are successful, there are always people who will look to say ‘how can we show they’re not that great after all,” she says.